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C r e a t i o n s  & I n s p i r a t i o n s
"f o r   t h e   p u r e   j o y   o f   m a k i n g   t h i n g s"

                             
Miycreations Project article and photographs
by  Madeleine M Langlois

Colorwash Kitchen Chairs: Faux-Finish for a Fresh Spring Look!
“Old kitchen chairs can be given a new urban-country look with a
colourwash treatment.”

Hands-on time: three hours per chair.
Total time: 6 hours of drying time
Skill: Moderate.
Cost estimate: $18.00 (cost of chairs not included, they can vary)

Materials & tools:

Kitchens chair, slightly weathered (or use unfinished wooden chairs)

Sandpaper or a sanding block and a tack cloth*

Painter’s tape

1 Base paint colour and paintbrush, acrylic or latex *
(I used the colour Straw by Delta Ceramcoat)

2 Acrylic paint colours*
(I used by Pumpkin and Lime green by Delta Ceramcoat)

A clean glass jar and lid to mix the colorwash
(I like to use baby food jars because they are the perfect size)

Measuring spoons and water

Small pieces of wood to test the colours on

A Soft cloth

Stencil paintbrush

Spray or brush-on matt varnish finish

Minwax Polycrylic clear gloss protective finish

Foam brush

(available at arts and crafts supply stores)

Old kitchen chairs can become beautiful urban-country pieces, simply by
giving them a colourwash treatment. It’s an effective way to give plain or
weathered chairs a fresh and updated look.

Colorwashing is a faux-finish technique and colorwash is a water-based paint-
similar to stain - that is translucent overcoat effect. The technique has been
primarily used for walls and floors, but Faux-finishes, paints and glazes are
now a popular choice to revamp furniture of many styles. colorwash is made
by mixing basic acrylic paints with water, which
allows the base colour of these the kitchen chairs and the natural
wood grain of the seat area to be to be seen.

Lightly sand the surface finish on the chairs to achieve a smooth
finish. The chairs do not need to be stripped for this project.
Wipe the surface off with a tack cloth.

The basecoat will only be applied to the backrest and the legs of
the chairs; the seats will remain natural. Apply painter’s tape on
the seat around the spokes of the back rest to avoid getting paint
on the seat area.
Paint the two chairs with the same basecoat colour, including the
underside, and let them dry for two hours.
(I used a corn straw colour over previously blue painted chairs).

Paint two to three small pieces of wood with the same base colour and allow
them to dry. They will be used to test your colorwash colours prior to painting
the chairs.

In clean glass jars, mix one part acrylic paint and two parts water for each
colour you wish to use. (I applied an orange colorwash to one chair and lime
green to the other). Place the lid on the jar and shake well. Test the
colorwash on the small pieces of wood to see if you like the effect, contrast
and colour. Apply the colorwash to the chair legs with an 2.5 centimetre stiff
brush or a stencil type of brush using long, even downward strokes and side
strokes for the horizontal bars. Once in a while reshake your colorwash
mixture to ensure an even blend and colour. You can use a clean, dry brush
to go over the just- applied colorwash to add more streaks again. Working in
the same direction with long, even strokes. Keep a clean cloth nearby and
wipe the brush occasionally to avoid any paint buildup and blotting.

Repeat the same steps to colorwash the top part of the chairs. Remove the
painter’s tape from the seat of the chairs. Apply the colorwash to the seat
area and allow the colour to set for a few seconds then wipe some off with a
clean cloth. Repeat the same steps for each chair. Allow the chairs to dry for
two hours.

Apply two to tree coats of Minwax Polycrylics waterbased varnish topcoat,
letting it dry between each coat. Let the chairs set overnight to 48 hours
before regular use. I applied three coats of varnish because these chairs are
in a busy traffic area of the kitchen and I have a young son who still spills
things. Your whole family will love the colourful and stunning results.

Variations:  For a teenage girl’s bedroom, a chair with a pink basecoat will
look hot with a purple colorwash tint; for a chic style, try painting a black chair
with a silver colorwash topcoat; for a tropical look try a turquoise colorwash on
a chair that has been painted a bright orange.
For even more amazing results try to colorwash unfinished wood items such
as picture frames, baskets and boxes. Even with two colorwash applications
the wood grain will still be visible and add a certain charm to any furniture
piece.







Tips:  colorwash paints can be purchased premixed in hardware and arts and
crafts stores - they are known as emulsion paints.  Latex paints can also be
used to make your own colour washing paints. colorwash applications can
also be used for antiquing furniture. They can be applied over acrylic stains,
textured mediums, and plaster of Paris. They can be applied with brushes,
sponges, stippling brushes and can even be used for making splatter patterns
on walls or furniture. Several colors can be applied over each other creating a
colour layering effect.
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